Morning?

"You want to come, don't you?"

Oh my God, yes.

My body was screaming for it.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

He choked on a laugh.

"You are so stubborn."

Fu Shao didn't say it in a mean way.

His lips came down on mine again and I could tell he gave it his all, determined to break my resolve and a few times I got close.

And I was throbbing between my legs but I wouldn't give in, not so soon. I had more control than that.

That night that I fell asleep with Fu Shao arms around me and his erection an insistent presence against my upper thigh.

Maybe we could really make this marriage work.

When I woke the next morning, I was alone in bed. I sat up, disappointed that he hadn't woken me. I slipped out of bed when he came into the bedroom from the hallway, already dressed in black, with a chest holster that held two knives and two guns, and who knew how many more holsters on the rest of his body with more weapons.

"Are you leaving already?"

He grimaced.

"The Mogo got one of ours. They left him in tiny pieces around one of our clubs."

"Somebody I know?" I asked with dread.

He shook his head.

"Will the Su clan's get involved?"

"Not if I can help it."

He cupped my face.

"I'll try to be home early, okay?"

I nodded. He lowered his head, watching me the entire time to see if I would pull back.

His lips brushed over mine. I opened my mouth for him and sank into the kiss, but it was over too quick. I watched his back as he left.

Then I picked up the phone and called Qina.

"I thought you'd never call," was the first thing out of her mouth.

I smiled.

"I haven't even showered yet, and it's only 8 in the morning in B city. You can't have been awake for long."

"You didn't call yesterday. So I was sick with worry. I couldn't sleep because of you. I hate that we are so far apart and I can't see for myself if you're okay. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am." I told her about my conversation with Fu Shao and how we'd spent yesterday together.

"How noble of him to agree to not cheat on you again and actually try to make the marriage work. Give that man flowers."

"He isn't a good man, Qina. There are no good men in our world. But I think he really wants to try. And I want it too."

"Why don't you ask him if I can come visit for a few days? I don't have school for another two weeks and I'm bored out of my mind without you. We could spend a couple of days at the beach in the B beach and go shopping in the cityscape."

"What about Father? Did you ask him?"

"He told me to ask you and Fu Shao."

"I will ask him. I don't think he'll mind. It's not like he's home very often at the moment. Most days I'm alone with Xu."

"Why don't you ask him if you can go to college? You've got perfect grades. You would have no trouble getting into the national University."

"What for? I won't ever be allowed to work. It's too dangerous."

"You could help him with his business things. You could be his secretary or whatever. You'll go crazy if you stay in that penthouse all the time."